Acoustic Image - Customer testimonials

What they're saying about the Acoustic Image Clarus and Contra Amplifiers:

Excerpts from Reviews

"Weighing in at a paltry 27 pounds, this 14" H x 16" D combo is one of the most amazing solid-state combos I've ever heard..The Contra is way more hi-fi than many of us are used to for acoustic instrument amplification, and those upright bassists looking for a truly clean machine will be astonished by the Contra's performance..When we hooked up a stereo pair of Contras, they totally disappeared-it was the most natural, uncolored bass sound I've ever heard from an amp. And we also got excellent results from jazz guitar and digital keyboards.

..for those jazz guitarists looking for a truly clean machine, the combination of the Contra's tiny, stand-alone head (the five-pound Clarus.) and a Raezer's Edge .Stealth 12.is fast catching on among those jazz guitarists who've long favored the Polytone Mini-Brute, but are looking for something even more portable, dynamic and hi-fi." Jazz Times, April, 2001.

"The Clarus should find favor with upright players seeking a balanced sound with effortless transportability. Paired with a natural-sounding cabinet, the Clarus is tough to beat for real-world gigging." Bass Player, December, 2000

What they are saying: Comments from endorsers

"The Acoustic Image Contra is the most remarkable amplifier I've ever experienced. It provides a warm, clear, powerful sound that affords me the luxury of reproducing my very own sound. The Contra's state-of-the-art design is unparalleled, handsome and fully equipped to handle all the needs of the contemporary bassist. I JUST LOVE IT." Eddie Gomez, legendary bassist, New York City.

"Being in the business for over 40 years I've worked with some of the finest "real time" performance equipment available, and I've seen them evolve to their present state of the art. One of the common difficulties in the transportation of them is their weight and size. The Clarus model from Acoustic Image is a tremendous solution to these issues. The fact that it weighs merely 5 lbs as a 300 watt amplifier is incredible in itself. Its size is amazing; but most of all its accuracy and clarity is at the top of the high-tech line. More and more pro-artists are using these instruments. Contact your nearest dealer and join the family." Pat Martino, legendary jazz guitarist

"Both the Acoustic Image Contra and the Clarus are amazing pieces of equipment that remove my need to search any further. My amplification needs at home as well as my "what to do about the amp situation in foreign countries" concerns have been very nicely answered. When traveling, I take along my Clarus, which is only about the size of a box of excellent cigars, and I'm assured of having my own sound regardless of where I am in the world, impervious to the machinations of those at the sound controls. Believe me, it provides a great feeling of reassurance." Buster Williams, legendary bassist, New York City
www.busterwilliams.com

"I love this amp. It's the most transparent amplification I've ever heard. Sounds like my bass only louder." Marc Johnson, legendary bassist, New York City

"I've been using the Acoustic Image Contra Model 310 BA on all of my performances. I believe it has the most acoustic sound I've heard yet for the stringed bass. With the settings flat, I get a natural warm tone and the speaker design gives the impression of a much larger system. The added, and much appreciated bonus, is the Contra's portability." Michael Moore, legendary bassist, New York City.

"I love the Clarus  and what it does for me  when I am on stage playing with any size group or at any volume. The Clarus  always delivers a quality sound with warmth and the fidelity I demand.  NEVER  has it been this easy to carry an amp home after the gig too. You 've got to check this out." Steve LaSpina

"If you are looking for the perfect jazz guitar sound, look no further than Acoustic Image. Very easy to use, just plug in and you get a very good jazz guitar sound often with no tweaking involved. I use the amp flat and Eq the sound slightly form my guitar's volume and/or tone pot." Jimmy Bruno www.jimmybruno.com

"The Clarus amp (made by Acoustic Image) is a terrific sounding, highly responsive and powerful new product. When used with the Raezer's Edge speaker, you couldn't ask for more. It's light weight and easy access to European voltage (110V to 220V) make it a perfect travel amp as well. I highly recommend it!" Jack Wilkins, legendary guitarist, New York City www.jackwilkins.com

"Recently I got the "Coda" and with out a doubt it is the best portable bass amp you can buy at any price anywhere. I have been using it in a wide variety of settings and it delivers everytime with exactly what I need. I can drive a big band, latin jazz ensemble, jazz trio or a guitar bass duo and it sounds exquisite at any volume. I can get alot of volume if I need it.The sound is clean, warm, with punch and a full dynamic range." Harvie S. (formerly Harvie Swartz), legendary bassist, New York City www.mp3.com/HarvieS

"The Contra is truly a revolutionary design that more than lives up to its potential. What impresses most is the extremely flat frequency response, even at low volume levels. It sounds especially sweet with acoustic (and electric) upright bass. The bottom is full and warm with no resonant peaks and the treble is smooth and clear. It blends very naturally with acoustic instruments and is perfect for bluegrass, jazz and singer/songwriter gigs. Very inspiring!" Dave Pomeroy, top Nashville session bassist and producer, Bass Player and Bass Frontiers columnist. www.davepomeroy.com

"I have had many bassists listen to this amp at my gigs and have also let them use it on their sets at festivals. Everyone has been knocked out by the sound and the size. I was in Colorado recently and a bass player used my rig to open our show. She was so excited about the amp that she told me she was selling her whole Ampeg rig to get a Clarus. Traveling has been a dream with this amp. I thought I would have to sacrifice tone or volume but I've yet to find its limits. Your amp is a real innovation. I now hear the true sound of my acoustic and electric basses. I also never again have to worry about airline fees for oversize or overweight gear. No matter what the style of music I am playing, the Clarus is on top of it. It is the next generation of amp for musicians and I can't thank you enough for your product." Derek Jones, bassist with the Darol Anger Mike Marshall, group.

"I have been playing the acoustic upright bass since 1976, and I have played over just about every bass amp available over that time. Some were good, some were not, but without a doubt the very best sound I've heard in those 25-plus years comes from the Contra Acoustic Image upright bass amp. Made especially for the acoustic upright bass, this amp has the capability of getting the true acoustic sound from your bass. Playing bass for LRB requires punch, large bottom, and clean sound from the low end on stage, and the Contra delivers in a big way, most of the time running an almost flat equalization across the board. The 310 sounds the best for me running my pick-up with pre-amp through a direct box into the board, while kicking the amp back on a stand approximately 12 inches off the floor. Our sound man has been equally impressed with the sound, and the ease of achieving it on a nightly basis. After a long, often frustrating search for the elusive 'perfect' sound for me, I feel I have found it with the Contra, and the Lonesome River Band can 'rock and roll' with its pulse and tone. It's great for solo work also. Kudos for the folks at Acoustic Image for listening to the voice of the acoustic players and coming up with this great product." Irl Hess, LRB bassist.

"I used a stereo amp set up with my Clarus amps and it sounded great. I have never played an ampwith this much bottom and warmth. Great Sound! The new Clarus 2R is so flexible. Having the mic input and the built-in digital reverb is great. I believe the Acoustic Image Clarus amps are the best on the planet." Jerry Hahn, guitarist and educator. www.jerryhahn.com

"I have been so busy since I last spoke with you but, did not want to let another day go by without thanking you and letting you know that I love both of these Acoustic Image units. The thing that really grabbed me right away is the was the amp enhances the natural acoustic sound and presence of the bass itself. In other words, I don't feel that the amp takes over and only gives me an electronic amplifier sound. Plus, the sound is the sound of the instrument itself in all registers and I don't have to 'fight' with the drummer to be heard." Larry Ridley, legendary bassist, New York City

"Amplifiers; I ve used them all at one time or another. None have ever brought as much attention to the beauty of the sound of my instrument as the Acoustic Image Contra. Whether you need to power a 16-piece band or function in as intimate a setting as performing duets with a vocalist or guitarist, the Contra delivers your sound at its sweetest and in the best light."    Dwayne Burno, bassist with Nicolas Payton, Roy Haynes, Benny Golson and many others, New York City www.jazzcorner.com/burno

"It has always been a challenge to find the right amplifier that can cover all of my musical needs, with the Acoustic Image Clarus 300 IA I've finally found the answer. Whether I use my Azola electric upright for the Latin style of the Poncho Sanchez Band where the role of the bass is big, round and percussive or with my own project, The Banda Brothers Sextet where the natural wood sound of my acoustic upright is what's called for musically, the Clarus 300 IA covers the full spectrum of sounds I'm hearing in these different situations with power to spare. It let's me get down to the business of expressing myself plus the fact that is fits easily in my carry-on bag is truly amazing. The bottom line is, this is a great sounding, powerful, light weight amp designed by musicians for musicians. Amen!" Tony Banda, bassist with the Poncho Sanchez Group and The Banda Bros. Sextet. www.bandabros.com

"It's fairly easy to find a great-sounding amplifier there days, but the Acoustic Image [Clarus] amplifier, on top of sounding incredible, has solved a bunch of problems for me and my band. To start with, I'm using a semi-acoustic instrument which has hi-fi sound. This amp not only sounds incredibly clear and warm, it's got so much reserve power that it captures all the transients and details of my sound even at very high volumes, even on electric bass. Second, this band tours a lot, and we're on a shoestring, which means space is at a premium everywhere. The unit is tiny, smaller even than the legendary Walter Woods, and much more flexible than those Stewart power amps, because it has all kinds of tone control. It also has an XLR out right on the amp, which means I don't even have to take along a direct box. And, best of all, this amp has all the connections needed to plug into any full-range monitior speaker, so we don't even have to bring cabinets! This is a lifesaver (and backsaver) when you're trying to fit the whole band in one van, and we're saving thousands of dollars a year on airline shipping charges, too. We can let the local sound company supply tow or three extra monitors at the venue and hook them up, whatever the model. Those tone controls mean that we can get the sound we want no matter what we get. These things are a real godsend. Thanks to the Acoustic Image guys for coming up with something that really makes a working musician's life so much easier." Darol Anger, The Anger/Marshall Band

"I ve used your bass amp in quite a few situations now and I m very pleased with it. It makes my old French bass sound more like the real wood than any other amp I ve tried, and I ve tried them all. I m glad you went for tone instead of super volume.. This amp carries through beautifully even in noisy rooms. I can always hear my notes clearly without overamplifying. . The amp works equally well with small groups and big bands. The other musicians I work with say it is great to them, too. Thanks for making a fine product."    Bill Crow, bassist (with Marian McPartland, Gerry Mulligan and many others) and author (Jazz Anecdotes, From Birdland to Broadway: Scenes From a Jazz Life), New York City.

"I'm so impressed with your amp. I am replacing every amp I use with it. I am recommending to every musician and sound technician I come in contact with. You have done a great service to creative musicians who love acoustic sound. It is right there, everything: the sound, volume and punch of my 166 year old Bernedel I use mostly with the Count Basie Orchestra. I look forward to performing because the fundamental problem of hearing the bass is solved by your design. I do not have to crank the amp to hear over 14 horns and loud drums, et al. The other musicians I work with are happy because they now can hear the bass and feel the bass with the blasting I used to have to do." James Leary, bassist, Count Basie Orchestra

"The ultimate for sound..is the Acoustic Image. It gives the most massive bottom and clear top end I ve ever heard.. It looks like a mouse, but it roars like a lion."    Ed Friedland, bassist, author and columnist

".omnidirectional output of frequencies below 800 Hz give it heft way out of proportion to its compact appearance. Simply put: Small box, big boom."    Bass Player, May 1999

"I just thought I'd let you know...
I thought the ad in Bass Player magazine was a bit over the top when I read "World's best acoustic bass amp"... then I tried it, and it's true. The Acoustic Image Contra gives the purest sound I have ever heard over a wide volume range. It was a little unnerving at first because I had to get used to the real sound of my bass... not the artificially colored sound I had been hearing through various amps throughout the last 30 years. If you like the sound of your bass the Acoustic Image Contra is the amp for you."    Bob Nieske, bassist    Boston, MA

"The Acoustic Image amps are the best I have ever played. The Contra combo amp is the first amp I've used that will reproduce the sound of my acoustic bass as accurately as I would like. This amp speaks musically much like my bass does unamplified. Drummers love it; the down firing subwoofer means that they can feel my notes through the floor, which makes it easy to lock up our time feels. For electric bass, the Clarus amp is a dream come true, a loud, punchy, clean power amp that weighs 5 lbs and comes with a gig bag that fits in the front pocket of my electric case! I've never been this completely satisfied with my amplification gear. With these amps, I simply don't ever have to worry about getting the sound that I want."    Marc Rogers, bassist, Toronto, Canada"

"I used the Contra yesterday evening. and it sounded fantastic. The sound was very warm and natural, very close to the acoustical sound of the bass, but with more deep bass than you usually get from the other amps. My colleagues were very excited about the Contra and loved it too. Even the owner of the club recognized the new amp and asked me about it."    Jonas Loshe, bassist, Germany www.jazzpages.com/doublebass

"I recently got an Acoustic Image Contra and it is a really amazing little amp..the lows are nicely diffused and similar to an upright bass sound in many ways, but the harmonics and the edge of the attack are there, too..it is extremely clean, without the usual bass amp response peaks and valleys-just honest linear response that is very hi-fi. This little 25 lb packs a good punch for URB and smaller electric bass gigs-I really like it for my fretless ABG, too."    Bob Gollihur, bassist and proprietor of a widely used double bass links page www.gollihur.com/bass, personal page and www.gollihur.com/kkbass/basslink, bass links page.

 

Comments from various users: (from emails and warranty registration card)

"I received my amp yesterday. Wonderful, clear true sound! Quiet operation, logical controls! You have a true winner here. You deserve every bit of success which is surely on the way to all of you at Acoustic Image. There will be a lot more natural sounding amplified instruments in the world since the inception of your terrific amplification products. I am driving a Stealth 12 from Raezer's Edge with my Clarus and am totally satisfied. For once, a product that actually does what it's advertising says it will do. Like some of the other testimonials have said, AMAZING."

"Wow. what a fine amplifier the Contra is. Where do I begin? First of all, thank you!! I have a Sadowsky 5-string and a 4-string Turner. Both sound great and the tiny Contra seems to have no problems with the Sadowsky s 31 Hz B string. In the 33 years I ve been playing the bass guitar, I ve played through just about every amplifier/speaker ever made. Pound for pound, the Contra is the best small amplifier I ve EVER used, and in some ways, it rivals much larger amplifiers/speakers. Physics seems to take a holiday where this astounding amplifier is concerned. As you can tell, I m completely satisfied and thrilled. Thank you again so much. (And my back thanks you too.)."

"Two weeks ago I bought the Clarus head and a 1x10 Acme cabinet. I am very satisfied. The pair works together well. The combination sounds very hi fi and zingy when soloed, but in an ensemble situation the zing backs off and I'm left with the tightest and punchiest bass sound I have ever had."

"Just a note to let you know that I have become very fond of that amplifier! It s perfect..lots of good comments and intrigue. Everyone within earshot was impressed with the Acoustic Image combo."

"Just yesterday I received my Acoustic Image Contra.. Immediately used it on the job (piano and bass duo). For over two years the SWR Workingman 15 and an Underwood pickup has been my amp of choice and the standard for comparing all other sounds. As you know the SWR can give a monstrous bottom, but after last night, IMHO, the only thing lost (with the Acoustic Image) was 30 lbs. The gains, in addition to light weight and ¼ the size, in an incredibly natural bow sound, and according to my piano player, crystal clear pizz and flat response in all registers."

"I have recently purchased a Contra. There is nothing comparable on the market as far as I m concerned. I have used it with my acoustic upright several times and I have never heard that old bass sound so fine. The response is pure like honey from the comb. Thank you for offering an excellent product.one that all musicians should know about."

"This amp sounded excellent. It sounded just like the actual bass without the amplified sound."

"I really enjoyed how big the amp sounded for such a small package. Even though I only played an acoustic through it, I m sure that an electric would sound equally as good. The amp didn t cover up my instrument s natural sound but rather complemented it nicely."

"This amp sounds great. I would have to say, the best I have ever heard and I have heard almost all of them!"

"I used the Contra with my acoustic for an afternoon gig yesterday and I was totally amazed. Your amp virtually made my Underwood sound like a mic! Congratulations again on a fine piece of work, my upright and electric basses will never part from the Contra from now on!"

"I have heard the great Buddy Catlett playing your amp at a gig recently. It is the best sounding amp I have ever heard. It really sounded incredible. Thanks for making a beautiful sound."

"It is a great amp and I am very happy with it. I personally believe, that it is very possible, that this will be the next legendary amp and will be used by as many people as for instance the Polytone during the late seventies and eighties, later the Gallien Krueger etc was/is used.. So there is not only a sound closer to the unamplified double bass, but as well a very good support to the rhythmical function of the double bass in a band. play a tone and wham it is there, everybody hears and feels it."

"This is the best acoustic bass amp that I have ever heard. Thank you."

"I couldn t lay my bass down after getting the amp hooked up."

"Ridiculous! (As in amazing)."

"Works well for piano."

"I love it already-wanna buy a Polytone Minibrute III? I don t need it."

"Used the amp with a big band and it exceeds your ad claims. I love it."

"Great sound. I am impressed than an amp this small can hold its own with a 20-piece big band."

"Wow, amazing.everyone who hears it is so impressed."

"Sounds great with both my acoustic and electric uprights. Very natural bowed sound too."

"It s awesome and acoustically gorgeous."

"I am impressed with excellent engineering design and great performance!"

""World s Greatest Upright Bass Amp"-I have to agree."

"Astonishingly perfect reproduction of my instrument s sound. All controls set at flat."

"1) WOW !!, 2) See 1"

"I LOVE IT!!! I LOVE IT!!! I LOVE IT!!! I LOVE IT!!! Thanks"

"Great clear clean sound"

"The amp is great. Sounds great, compact and easy to tote. I ve had nothing but good comments from my friends."

"Everything you say it is-I m very happy with it."

"Great amp! Nice tone-big bass! Very portable. It gives my upright a dark woody sound."

"Thank you for the prompt delivery of your product. The sound of the Contra and the extension cabinet are everything I hoped for. My bass still sounds like my bass, but louder. The amp picks up the full range of the instrument in a very natural way. I appreciate the small size, low weight and big natural sound from your innovative synthesis of modern technologies, high quality components and respect for traditional acoustic sound."